Wood Resources International LLC Company: Exports of logs and lumber
from the US and Canada to China are on pace to reach a record 2.6
billion dollars in 2011

The US and Canada have been exporting record volumes of logs and lumber
to China in 2011. The Wood Resource Quarterly predicts that exports in
2011 will double those seen in 2010 to reach an estimated value of 2.6
billion dollars. Lumber shipments from Canada alone could reach 1.2
billion dollars this year. The North American share of log and lumber
import volumes to China has increased from four percent in 2005 to 18
percent in 2010.

October 05, 2011 06:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Shipments of softwood lumber and logs from the US and Canada to China
will reach a new record high in 2011. In 2010, the two countries
exported 1.3 billion US dollars worth of softwood products; if the pace
seen in the first seven months of 2011 continues, the two countries’
exports will more than double from last year, reaching a record 2.6
billion US dollars, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly.

Despite the disappointing developments in the US housing sector the past
year, lumber production in both the US and Canada has been higher in
2011 than in 2010. Many sawmills in the Western US and Canada have
benefitted from the dramatic increase in demand from Chinese lumber
consumers and some sawmills are exporting up to 30-40 percent of their
production to the fast developing market in Asia.

The biggest increase in shipments the past year has been that of
softwood lumber from the province of British Columbia in Canada. Much of
this lumber comes from the massive supply of timber that has been killed
by the pine beetle over the past 15 years. The value of lumber shipments
from Canada has increased from just 55 million dollars in 2005 to an
estimated 1.2 billion dollars this year.

While Canada has drastically raised lumber shipments to China in recent
years, the US has instead expanded exportation of logs to Chinese lumber
manufacturers. This year, US west coast log exporters are projected to
ship logs valued at over 900 million dollars, which is up from only 42
million dollars just four years ago.

The US and Canada have not only increased shipment volumes of logs and
lumber to China the past five years; the countries have also expanded
their importance in the Chinese wood market. In 2005, only four percent
of all softwood logs and lumber imported to China originated from North
America. Last year, this share had gone up to 18 percent, according to
the Wood Resource Quarterly. Many North American log and lumber
suppliers have the opportunity to expand their export sales in the
coming years and it is likely that their presence in the Chinese market
will grow.

Global timber market reporting is included in the 52-page quarterly
publication Wood Resource Quarterly. The report, established in 1988 and
with subscribers in over 25 countries, tracks sawlog, pulpwood, lumber
and pellet prices and market developments in most key regions around the
world.

Mr. Ekstrom is the President of Wood Resources International LLC, which
is an internationally recognized forest industry consulting firm
established in 1987. The company also publishes two quarterly timber
price reports tracking global forest products markets. The market
reports have readers in over 25 countries.

Wood Resources International LLC (WRI), an internationally recognized
forest industry consulting firm established in 1987, publishes two
quarterly timber price reports and have readers in over 25 countries.
The Wood Resource Quarterly, established in 1988, is a 50-page market
report and includes delivered sawlog prices, pulpwood and wood chip
prices. The report also covers the latest developments in international
timber, pulp, lumber and biomass markets in all major regions of the
world, including Asia, North America, South America, Oceania and Europe.